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Cottey dedicates new Judy and Glenn Rogers Fine Arts Building
Nevada Daily Mail
The dedication of the new Judy and Glenn Rogers Fine Arts Building and the refurbishing of Neale Hall on the campus of Cottey College drew a packed audience of Cottey staff, administrators, alumnae, community leaders, campaign donors, those involved with the construction of the facility, Nevada and Vernon County residents, and members of the P.E.O. Sisterhood.
It was a morning of speeches, laughs, tears of joy, and congratulations, as well as performances by the faculty and students who will now make this building home.
As the final touches on the building continue, most of the work was finished and on display to the steady stream of people touring the various state-of-the-art practice rooms, offices and classrooms.
Faculty were on hand to talk about their new environs, as were students, a number of whom could be found pirouetting on the floor of the new dance studio, singing with an acoustical backdrop, or evoking notes on their instruments in one of the many practice rooms, for individuals and for small groups. Artistic expression could also be found in the design of the area for the visual arts, from painting to sculpture.
The opening featured Beethoven's "Ode to Joy," with vocal, instrumental and dance performances by Cottey students.
College President Jann Weitzel began the morning's remarks by hailing it as "an amazing day of celebration.
"This building represents the culmination of years of hard work and diligent planning, among the P.E.O., alumnae, the administration, faculty and staff, friends, the City of Nevada, architects, craftsmen, and everyone and anyone who played a part in raising funds, planning, designing and building.
"This effort makes possible the clustering of arts into one setting and the vision of the arts programs joined as one.
"This will allow our students and faculty to work together and across the arts."
Dr. Weitzel hailed the building as a "showcase" for recruiting prospective students.
"This will help our students prepare for the job market and for the next step in their lives. It's great to see that the arts and sciences are alive at Cottey College."
Peggy Bottorf, chair of the Cottey Board of Trustees, introduced members of the board, both current and past, who were in attendance from across the United States and thanked them for their support of the project, noting that support was "vitally important in every stage."
She especially singled out Mary Haggans, past vice president for administration and finance and special assistant to the president, now retired, who served as project manager. Bottorf praised Haggans for her efforts in guiding this vision to fruition.
"This will fulfill the purpose of enhancing the learning opportunities of each student who will enjoy its use and of our campaign supporters' legacy of leadership this will building will represent."
President Maria Baseggio of the International Chapter of the P.E.O. Sisterhood introduced members of the P.E.O. Executive Board, as well as several past board presidents who were in attendance.
In her remarks, she recalled founder Mary Alice Cottey Stockard's "commitment to address the needs of women's education," and that same commitment by the P.E.O. that has stayed true "from the 1900s to today."
Baseggio thanked the leadership efforts of former Cottey College President Judy Rogers for making this day possible.
"She did an exemplary job."
The efforts of the college and the P.E.O. will "continue to provide stellar education for learners and leaders in today's society," she said.
Sally Holland, president of the Alumnae Association, told of the alumnae's task of deciding on a name for Neale Hall in this new effort, which is adjacent to the new Judy and Glenn Rogers Fine Arts Building, and was again, being repurposed. It is now incorporated into the fine arts program's physical location, and is physically connected via a skywalk.
She touched on the history of Neale Hall, which has served many roles from its inception in 1926, from a physical education building to a hybrid of athletic, recreation and academic offerings.
Neale Hall housed a gymnasium, a swimming pool, and home economics and science facilities, before morphing into studios for graphic arts, design, painting, photography, an art gallery, lecture rooms and storage areas, as well as pottery kilns and drawing, painting and sculpture classes.
Alumnae raised $2 million for the naming rights of the building, and after much discussion, Holland said, "It's exciting that this building will continue as Neale Hall," named after its principal benefactor, Mary Frances Neale.
"We are very excited for this addition," and the building's latest transformation, she said.
Barbara Andes, chair of "A Defining Moment, the Campaign for Cottey College," the first comprehensive fundraising effort for the college, spoke of the 5,800 volunteers who played such a key role in funding not only the new fine arts building but in raising the money for the other keystones of the campaign -- scholarship endowment, faculty chairs, library enhancements, and unrestricted funding.
"This was the largest campaign in scope for the college and the P.E.O. And, as you know, the college and P.E.O. do not assume debt," she said.
She told of the board members' visit to campus and tour of the various locations where the various fine arts activities and programs were located.
That was followed by a lunch in a marked off area of the grounds, "where this building now stands.
"It became very clear to all of us that we needed these programs under one roof.
We were excited to know what was to come."
The fundraising effort took place through meetings, personal visits, and media outreaches, she said. "Through the generosity of 20,000 donors all across the country, we met and exceeded our goal, to reach $40.4 million.
"Our hope is that this building will be an inspiration to all who pass through its doors and will be evidence of that enduring support and our belief in Cottey College and her students."
Mary Haggans then took the podium and thanked the various companies that made the actual facilities possible.
She noted that one of those involved in the project from the business end, Amy Eckhoff, is a Cottey graduate.
Haggans also thanked the faculty team for their work, and praised Neal Swarnes, director of Cottey's physical plant, for his help and insight.
She concluded by thanking everyone involved for their " hard work, attitude and professionalism."
Professor Theresa Spencer offered expressions of gratitude "on behalf of the fine arts faculty.
"Our founder, Mary Alice Cottey Stockard, believed in the importance of arts in education.
"Every room (in the Judy and Glenn Rogers Fine Arts building and the revitalized Neale Hall) is an expression of that commitment and reflects the influence that a creative education instills in us.
"My hope is to see this heartfelt reflection as we continue to inspire, with each etude, each song, each leap, and each brushstroke.
"Every artist now and in the future thanks you."
Student Government President Ty'Cember Jones told those in the audience, "How much we appreciate the ability to start making remarkable memories."
Cottey's 11th President, Judy Rogers, opened with, "It's such an honor to have my name attached to such a grand building."
Having been retired for just a few short months, she reflected on her memories at Cottey, saying it was "an incredible experience." She called the building a "model of collaboration and true teamwork," from all of those involved.
"This was a devoted and determined group of women who dedicated their time and talents to make a shared vision," a reality.
"The fine arts building was the sole capital improvement project in our campaign priorities. Our No. 1 goal was to increase scholarships for our students.
"But never once did we feel like we couldn't do it."
She praised the "donors who chose to make this brick and mortar building a reality. I got to witness the joy of giving and philanthropy. I want to say thank you to every person who made this a reality."
Glenn Rogers followed his wife's remarks, with, "We are honored and astonished" to be recognized with this "permanent symbol of most the satisfying and productive period in our professional careers."
He called the building "purposely designed, thoughtfully constructed and aesthetically brilliant.
"To have our name permanently associated with this building is an honor."